Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Box Jellies Quilt

This quilt was such a pleasure to make. What a fabulous pattern, Marsha! I love it. Thank you for making it available on your website, and thank you for your fabulous tutorial.

The only modification I made to Marsha's pattern was to leave off one row at the bottom, due to size/hanging considerations.

Some detail:

The quilt just glows, doesn't it? For drama, nothing beats batiks on black.

I'm not crazy about the thread I used to quilt this quilt, I would've rather used a thicker thread, but my machine-on-a-stick does NOT like quilting through batiks. It took me longer to quilt this quilt than I would've liked because I could only quilt a few feet before the thread would break! I spent lots of time with the seam ripper before I switched to a thin poly thread--but even then, lots of breakage. I left a few more black gnarly balls on the back than I care to admit. Argh.

I quilted squiggly vertical lines on the squiggle block, and horizontal wavy lines with little eyebally-looking things on the box blocks. Sort of like how the water would flow around swimming jellyfish .

I got stung by a real box jellyfish once. It stings for hours! But I don't hold it against them. I think they're beautiful. Here's a confession: every time I quilt a quilt, I think to myself, "this is the WORST quilting I've ever done. Look at all these mistakes. I give up--I just want to get it done and over with! Perhaps I'll hang it so you can only see it far away..." No lie. Every time I quilt something. But then I step back instead of being right on top of it....and it's okay! Not brilliant...but okay! And DONE--which adds to its appeal. DONE and FINISHED is good when it comes to quilting. Mistakes are secondary. Marsha suggested a colorful binding and I agreed! But instead of using a colorful fabric, I just sewed together my leftover squiggle strips and used them as my binding. Off they swim! Bye bye Box Jellies! Don't tell anyone who quilted you!!!!

I've been SO busy. I know I've been a bad blogger, but that's how it'll probably be until Fall, unfortunately. Right now, I have lots of pattern orders, visitors, teaching requests, my son will be home soon (yay!), and I have some home improvement projects that I want to get done. I'm also trying to squeeze in some extra exercise and reading time, because that helps me deal with the stress of being so busy.

Some people thrive on being busy; I am not one of those people. I do not like being busy at all. I like time to dream and think and read and create. Time to drift around the yard and enjoy the flowers. Time to clean out drawers, time to play with my cat, time to enjoy my family. So sometimes, I have to withdraw and purposefully slow down!

It's a funny thing, this slowing down business. I just have to consciously apply myself to it periodically! Without noticing it, I speed up slowly every day--obligations creep into my schedule, new projects vie for my attention, new ideas pop into my head that want to be explored, to-do lists are generated...and pretty soon, I'm overwhelmed. It grows exponentially. And then I find myself neglecting the basics: my home, my health, and my joy.

So please excuse my infrequent blogging while I re-focus. Blogging and visiting blogs is definitely part of my joy (I love all you guys!), but my posts will be occasional, since my ability to sew and craft something to show you will be occasional also during these very busy Spring/Summers. Today, for instance, will be spent printing, folding, and tying patterns, going to the post office, writing up class plans, delivering teaching materials to Kapaia Stitchery, grocery shopping, and picking up an new DVR box from the cable company. A thrilling day, no? Life in Paradise.

66 comments:

I have missed you, my Hawaiian friend! I was preparing to swim across the Pacific to come visit and make sure you were OK. Of course, I'd have to trek all the way across the country first, so don't put dinner on...yet.

Hi Lisa! Your quilt looks great! I can so well understand your feelings! I use to read too, when I´m too busy or stressed! I also design new patterns to make later! So there will be hundreds of pincushions, tote bags, aprons, potholders and wallhangings.. By the way we made similar jelly quilt of paper at school! Many of my students liked to make it! Still one month working before our summer holiday!

Hi Lisa! I love your Jellies quilt! The quilting looks wonderful too. I fully understand the "take time to smell the roses" attitude. I recently quit going to guild meetings which in my case meant once a week, 3 times a month. I resigned from managing a website for the guild too. It's amazing the time you can spend on things and not notice until you actually stop doing them. I am now spending more time with family, outside in the yard getting some fresh air and sunshine, and I'm getting more done in my sewing room and around the house than I have for months. My friends and family say I even look happier and healthier. I'm just glad to see you are O.K.---and blogging is a volunteer position--not required. Enjoy some quiet time, it's good for the soul.

Concentrate on priorities...family and home. Then other enjoyments as they come. We will take ya, whenever blogging fits in. No pressure. Just like Angie said...blogging is a volunteer position! I just love the jellies quilt!

I love the quilt! You have a good eye for color and form. And the pleasant, humorous way you have of expressing yourself is so endearing. I'm so glad when you put up a new post, as often or seldom as you feel like it. Enjoy!

I'm glad that you had time for today's post, I've been missing them, but do understand about changes and priorities. Taking time to enjoy life is what's it's about. Till next time... :)I'm still reading your book and chuckling all the way :D

Hi there! Your Box Jellies is wonderful and so fun!I've been missing seeing your post, but that's OK. I know you're busy. I'm like you...I like to be busy but don't like it when it's too busy that I get stressed out. Glad you remember to take some times out for yourself. Take care.Rhonda

.....and , of course we all understand if blog posts get spaced farther apart as life get NUTS!!!! (I myself have often BEGGED to get off of the merry go round .... usually when I find myself driving down the road and suddenly trying desperately to remember if I'm going to work, going to the grocery store, or supposed to be picking a kid up from somewhere...... AAAAACK !!!! ...and then I also decide I should look down and check to see what the heck I'm wearing ..... hopefully I remembered to change out of my pj's!)

Nice to read your post today. I love the jellies!! the quilting is great! you may be mad at the thread for giving you such a hard time ha ha

And, because you have taken us on trips to the post office, and all the fun sites, shown us your cute little bows and such, we will use our imaginations (or look at your previous posts) and imagine another day in paradise!!

geez...i thought maybe you went to washington with cindy and joe to see the kids. anyway, your box jellies are very nice. i really love the pattern and printed out her tutorial. it snowed a little yesterday, can you believe it. hopefully no more till next year but ive been told on more than one occasion that it can snow in july?!! glad you are doing well if not totally frazzeled...thats what you get for being such a big time quilter :-) miss you guys

Hi!! {{{{{{{{{Lisa}}}}}}}}}} So nice to hear from you! I confess I haven't had much time for my blog either, but dang, I haven't anything as dramatic as your Jellies Quilt to show for it... just the flu, sheesh.

*raises hand* Can I have a do over for that? I think I need to NOT get the flu...

Well, while I am not blogging (or quilting!), I am working on an amulet bag in peyote stitch, and another leather belt pouch. If the batteries are okay in the camera, maybe I can get pics up soon. Thanks, btw, for your pic tutorial--I learned a lot from it!

Good to here from you and boy do I understand the busy part. The blogging thing is addictive because it is so fun to meet new folks and see what everyone is doing (not to mention talk about the fun stuff in your own life) but it can also take over a lot of time. We do what we can...the rest doesn't matter.

Lovely quilt! I so enjoy reading your blog. You have a wonderful sense of humor. And I so identify with needing "time". I love to just have silence. It's amazing what we miss with all the noise of radio and tv. The birds, the sound of the wind in the trees, just sounds. It is comforting to me.

Your quilt is beautiful!! Love it, love it!! The Squiggles quilt is so fun to make and look at. It makes me smile whenever I look at it. I am so glad you enjoyed it and I hope everyone that reads your blog will make one too!

What fun to hear from you again! While you've been elsewhere I have enjoyed rereading your previous posts. You've taken us on some dandy trips, and revisiting them is wonderful. Regarding the quilting, did you forget Lisa's own words, "Oh well, no one will notice."?? Speaking of which, someday when you have time, would you post a photo of THAT quilt; the one that won best of show after you had given up on it? You are such an inspiration!

Your quilt look great and so does your quilting! I love the look of the squiggle strip binding. Enjoy your summer and the slow life. I try my best to keep things slow, but life usually seems anything but slow. I can't imagine how fast it would go by if I were trying to keep myself busy.

Hi Lisa, I come to your blog almost everyday to see if you are back writing here---I miss you, and hope you are enjoying your break. We are planting our vegetable garden tomorrow. Yours must be growing quite nicely now. It has been scorching here in Santa Rosa this past week, but cooling down some this evening. Just thinking of you-----

I love the quilt and enjoy your blog more than any other. I also enjoy it more than the dishes, laundry, cleaning, cooking ... you get the idea (and a fair picture of what my house usually looks like).

Anyway, I know you are busy and I am not nagging you to blog again - just letting you know that I miss you. On the plus side, my house is a little bit cleaner.

Has anyone heard from Lisa since she suddenly quit posting on her blog. I've emailed her with no replies. If anyone has any info. please contact me at my blog email or post a comment here at Lisa's blog. I sure hope she is O.K. I miss her!